5 Poses to Heal Emotional Pain and Calm the Mind

Leslie JohnsonDecember 27, 20120

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Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years to strengthen and unite
the mind, body and soul. When the mind and soul become out of balance,
the body is also affected. In turn, physical wellness can affect and
strengthen a person’s mental wellness. The two are so interconnected
that many doctors and therapists suggest exercise as a partial regimen
for people suffering from anxiety and depression. However, those who
are feeling depressed often find it difficult to begin an exercise
routine as an unbalanced body and mind can feel listless and lack
energy.

For those who are embarking on a journey of emotional or spiritual
healing, yoga offers poses that can focus and calm your mind. These
poses can be used as in-the-moment coping strategies to relieve anxiety
or can be incorporated into existing routines for a maximum affect.

Child’s Pose/Balasana**

It’s so easy, a child could do it! For those who are new to yoga, the
child’s pose is an excellent introduction to the calming benefits of its
poses. Usually, child’s pose is reserved as one of the last,
tension-releasing poses of a yoga routine; but for someone who is
struggling to regain physical control during a panic attack, child’s
pose can bring a feeling of calm, comfort and focus. Focus on deep
breathing.

Easy Pose/Sukhasana**

Though simple, mental focus is required to maintain the posture and
breathing of the pose, which makes it ideal for both preventative and
coping routines for those who experience anxiety. Those who are feeling
displaced or confused can mindfully use Easy Pose by envisioning the
body as being rooted to the ground.

Cat and Cow Pose/Marjariasana**

For the Cat/Cow to be effective, it is important to allow your mind to
become completely absorbed in the tiny alterations taking place in your
body’s energy while shifting between the two. Starting out on all fours,
inhale while looking up toward the sky, opening the chest and heart. As
you exhale, round your shoulders and hang your head between your
shoulders. This is a revitalizing pose that will gently massage your
lower back, which makes it perfect for anyone who feels fatigued or
mentally clouded after a long day at the office.

The Locust Pose can be used to help assuage the effects of chronic
depression and its effects on the body. The pose opens the heart,
strengthens posture, revitalizes energy levels, aids in digestion and
alleviates back pain. For someone who is feeling physical fatigue from
emotion stress, Locust is a wonderful natural remedy.

To access the Locust Pose, lie prostrate on your mat with your hands by
your side, palms up. On an exhale, lift your arms, chest, head and legs
off the ground. Your palms can remain facing up, or you can clasp them
together behind your back. If you have trouble lifting your arms, you
can drop your palms to the mat and lift your chest, head and legs. (This
is very similar to the Cobra pose.)Take care to keep your head in line
with your neck. If your neck feels tense, try looking down.

The pose can be paired in a sequence with Downward Dog to heighten
energy even further. To transition into Downward Dog, simply shift into
table top, pressing through palms into the second pose on an exhaling
breath. While inhaling, settle into Downward Dog. On the next exhale,
come to the floor. Settle onto your mat on an inhaling breath, and lift
into Locust during the exhale.

Savasana

Each yoga routine should end in Savasana, also called the Corpse Pose,
this pose requires no physical movement, but demands an intense
mind-body connectedness. Lying on your back with palms facing down and
eyes closed, simply focus on your breathing and your body. Now is the
time to eliminate all muscle tension. Starting with the toes, focus your
mind’s energy on completely relaxing each part of your body. Continue
for as long as it takes for your body and mind to achieve a resounding
calm. Then, begin testing your muscles as if for the first time,
wiggling toes and fingers and eventually bending your knees to stand.
This is especially helpful for those who awaken with panic attacks in
the middle of the night or who have difficulty calming the mind at the
end of the day.

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Leslie Johnson

Leslie Johnson, an RN with a special interest in energy healing and holistic medicine. When she’s not running around in her scrubs, Leslie spends her time writing about the medical field on blogs like mastersinhealthcare.com.